Hypselobarbus pulchellus is endemic to the peninsular rivers of India, mainly the Krishna, Godavari, Tungabhadra, Sita and Tunga. It once formed a major fishery of the Tungabhadra reservoir but has declined to the status of a critically endangered species. H. pulchellus is a bentho-pelagic species which inhabits the deeper part of large streams and rivers along the base of ghats. It is the only indigenous fish that consumes aquatic weeds and submerged grasses, and could play a role in controlling aquatic vegetation in reservoirs, tanks and irrigation canals. Capable of attaining 8 kg, H. pulchellus would make a welcome addition to pond culture practices of India, especially for composite fish culture. This article gives an overview of the breeding and seed production technologies developed by ICAR-CIFA for farm-bred and pond-raised H. pulchelllus.

Kashmir Valley is bestowed with abundant water resources in the form of high altitude lakes, wetlands, rivers and springs and the geophysical conditions offer a great scope for fish to thrive. Around 15% of the population has fisheries as a principal source of income. In Kashmir, the dominant active fishing gear is the cast net, known locally as zaal, and cast nets are heavily used in the Dal, Wular, and Manasbal lakes of the valley. This article describes typical designs of cast nets used in the valley.

The ‘Moyna Model’ is accepted as an example for freshwater fish culture throughout West Bengal. Moyna is a great example of the freshwater fish culture revolution in West Bengal and a new horizon for culture of the major carps. Moyna fish farmers have adapted the procedures of Andhra farmers incorporating their own blend of experience, skill and technology. This article describes the history and development of major carp culture practices in Moyna, challenges faced by the industry including groundwater exploitation, and documents the experience of some progressive farmers.

NACA's Director General Dr Jie Huang will give a virtual lecture on "Biosecurity - the concept to guarantee the sustainable development of aquaculture" as part of the World Fisheries Day 2020 Lecture Series, hosted by the ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, India. The lecture will be presented on 22 December from 3pm - 4:30pm India Standard Time (UTC +5:30) via Zoom. The lecture will feature Special Remarks by Dr C.N. Ravisankar, Director of ICAR-CIFT. The Organiser is Dr S.K. Swain, Director of ICAR-CIFA, and the Coordinator is Dr S.S. Giri, Head, FNP Division. Attendance is open to all, please register.

The 86th edition of the Quarterly Aquatic Animal Disease Report contains information from fifteen governments. The foreword provides a discussion of a webinar on decapod iridescent virus 1 (DIV1), held on 20 August 2020.

The 85th edition of the Quarterly Aquatic Animal Disease Report contains information from nine governments. The foreword provides a disease advisory concerning decapod iridescent virus 1 (DIV1), an emerging threat to the shrimp industry.

In this issue:

Hatchery techniques for the seed production of short-necked clams (Paphia undulata) in Nha Trang, Vietnam; Lovesome chum of the aquarium are wreaking havoc in East Kolkata Wetlands, India; Concept of indigenous recirculatory aquaculture system executed in West Bengal, India and other places; Homestead modular hatchery technology of brackishwater catfish, Mystus gulio: A potential alternate livelihood option for small and marginal farmers of Sunderban; NACA Newsletter.

In this issue:

Vale Professor Sena De Silva; the State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2020; Viral covert mortality disease (VCMD): Disease card; Disease advisory: Decapod iridescent virus 1 (DIV1): An emerging threat to the shrimp industry; Infection with decapod iridescent virus 1 (DIV1): Disease card; Proceedings of the Regional Workshop on Underutilized Fish and Marine Genetic Resources and their Amelioration; Latest special issue of Gender, Technology & Development examines new learnings on women and fisheries; Development of a global information system for farmed types of aquatic genetic resources; Quarterly Aquatic Animal Disease Report, October-December 2019.

The catfish Mystus gulio is a small indigenous euryhaline fish found in fresh and brackishwater environments of the Sunderban delta of Bangladesh and India. A fast-growing species with high nutritional value, market demand and hardy nature, M. gulio is a desirable candidate for aquaculture in Asia. It is co-cultured with other brackishwater species in paddy fields, but expansion of culture in pond systems has been held back because of a shortage of seed. This article reports on induced breeding techniques and the development of a farmer-friendly modular hatchery and farming system suitable for use at the homestead level or by small-scale operators.

In pursuit of modernising fish culture practices, novel recirculatory aquaculture systems (RAS) have been introduced in semi-urban areas of West Bengal and other parts of India. While quite a few progressive fish farmers in India have adopted advanced, intensive and imported RAS systems featuring huge plant, other farmers have developed small and indigenous RAS systems that require comparatively low investment. This article discusses the design, principles, state-of-the-art and associated practical aspects of indigenous RAS technology as currently practiced in West Bengal and other places.

Loricariid catfish species of the genus Pterygoplichthys, known in the aquarium trade as 'plecos' and 'algae eaters', have extensively invaded and proliferated in the East Kolkata Wetlands in West Bengal. Loricariids have capacity to alter the ecosystem and biodiversity of invasion sites, by physically altering the invaded habitats and by competing with native animals for food and space. The aquarium trade pathway is the most significant source of loricariid introductions globally. This article discusses the invasion of loricariid catfish in the East Kolkata Wetlands, and the environmental and economic impact on local fishers.

The 84th edition of the Quarterly Aquatic Animal Disease Report contains information from eleven governments. The foreword discusses meetings of the ad hoc Steering Committee of the Regional Collaboration Framework on Aquatic Animal Health in Asia and the Pacific.

In this issue:

Potential new species in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Sabaki tilapia (Oreochromis spilurus); Role of fish & fisheries in national nutrition of Pakistan; Success story of first fish farmer in India to be awarded ‘Padma Shri’; Insights into the fishing gear and ichthyofauna of major lentic water bodies of Kashmir Valley; NACA Newsletter.

Instituted in 1954, the Padma Shri is awarded by the Government of India to Indian citizens on occasion of Republic Day in recognition of their distinguished service and contribution. Sri Batakrushna Sahoo, an elderly, progressive fish breeder and seed producer of Odisha State, was conferred with the Padma Shri Award in 2020 in the discipline of animal husbandry. He is only the second person to receive it from the fishery and aquaculture sector. This article documents Sr Sahoo’s beginnings, early entry into fish seed production, his success and role in educating others over the years.

The abundant aquatic resources of Jammu and Kashmir harbour a wide variety of indigenous and exotic fish species make it one of the promising areas for coldwater and hill stream fisheries. The fish fauna of Kashmir Valley is mainly represented by the families Cyprinidae, Cobitidae, Silurideae, Poecilideae, Sisorideae and Salmonideae. The fisheries sector in Kashmir valley has huge potential but is yet to gain momentum. This article describes the fish fauna of the lakes of Jammu and Kashmir, and some of the indigenous fishing gears commonly used by people living in the area.

In this issue:

Mahseer sanctuaries of Meghalaya: A conservation and recreational perspective; Impacts of climate change on aquaculture in Vietnam: A review of local knowledge; Simple means of water aeration adopted by progressive fish breeders in West Bengal, India; Breeding striped snakehead (Channa striata) using the concrete tank method in the Cangkringan Area, Special Region of Yogyakarta; NACA Newsletter.

This article presents available information regarding the present status of chocolate mahseer and the conservation measures been undertaken in the East Garo Hills of Meghalaya. A total of 54 sanctuaries have been established since 2012 in Garo, Khasi and Jaintia hills under the Meghalaya State Aquaculture Mission project of the Fish Farmers Development Agency. The sanctuaries have been established with the objective to preserve and enhance aquatic biodiversity, protect indigenous fish species, preserve breeding and feeding grounds, and serve as tourist attractions to provide livelihood opportunities.

In India, West Bengal is the leading state in hatchery-based seed production (spawn, fry, advanced fry) of major carps and other economically important freshwater fishes. Dissolved oxygen is the most critical parameter of water quality and basic necessity in fish hatcheries, nursery and grow-out ponds. Hatchery fish seed production can be limited by the dissolved oxygen content of circulating water. Progressive fish breeders in villages of West Bengal have overcome and eliminated this problem by designing simple but effective means of water aeration to improve dissolved oxygen in hatchery water supplies, maximising survival of fertilised eggs, hatchlings and spawn. This article describes some of the techniques that have been adopted using low-cost and recycled materials.

The 83rd edition of the Quarterly Aquatic Animal Disease report contains information from twelve governments. The foreword discusses the upcoming 11th Symposium on Diseases in Asian Aquaculture (DAA 11), which will be held from 29 September to 2 October 2020, at the Borneo Convention Center, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.

The 35th Session of Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission has identified the lack of effective governance as a major threat to sustainable aquaculture growth for greater contribution to achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The objectives of the consultation were to: Share the results of country studies on aquaculture governance in respective countries; identify gaps, issues and challenges in aquaculture governance; and recommend strategies and actions to improve and strengthen aquaculture governance.